Rabbit Shares Fire Ceremony

This Ceremony is meant for Webelos scouts.

Required:

candles for each Scout earning rank and for current Webelos scouts participating in the ceremony

Preparation:

practice with Webelos beforehand

Script:

(Current Webelos scouts are asked to leave the room where they are given the large lighted candle to bring in)(Webelos rank candidates are called forward, along with the parents of the rank candidates. Give each candidate a smaller unlit candle. )

Cubmaster: According to legend, long ago, fire was allowed only in the square during the ceremonial dance. But Rabbit had different ideas. He felt there should be fire in other places. So he devised a plan.

Rabbit had his friends rub his head with pine until his hair stood on end. Everyone thought this new crested headdress looked so fine that they made him leader of the dance. He danced around the sacred fire logs, but no one noticed how close to them he was getting. On one pass he dipped his headdress, catching it on fire, and ran away so fast no one could catch him.

The people chanted and danced, bringing four days of rain, which they thought would put out Rabbit's fire. Rabbit had planned ahead however, and sheltered the fire in a hollow log. When the sun came out, he emerged and began sharing the fire with others. Soon the people began to have fires in their homes and before long, everyone had fire.

Just as Rabbit shared the fire with others, so we share the spirit of Scouting. As we all know, the Webelos are the keepers of the flame for our pack. (The Webelos den enters, carrying the large candle)Cubmaster: Webelos scouts, are you willing to share your fire with these new Webelos candidates?(Webelos say 'Yes' and then light the candle of each candidate)

Cubmaster: As we share the spirit, it is not divided, but increased. We spread the flame as we welcome you to the ranks of those who have earned the Webelos badge. You are progressing on your trail to the Arrow of Light. We congratulate you on this accomplishment and encourage you to remain steadfast in your devotion to the journey.